Storm window lock

ABSTRACT

A lock for a storm window, a catch of the lock being adapted to fit within a track along which a positionable window slides to a closed position. Spring biased latches on the positionable window are automatically biased by the catch away from the track and received by a recess in the catch, which recess retains the latch and prevents movement of the positionable window.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to locks for spring biased latches forstorm windows. More particularly, the present invention relates tocatches for spring biased latches associated with storm windows.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Vertically hung storm windows having a fixed window and a coplanarscreen facing the outside of a building or a home with insidepositionable windows are well known. The positionable window utilizesspring biased latches mounted into a bottom side of a sash of the windowto engage any one of a plurality of notches positioned along a casing,into which the entire storm window is mounted. The latch extends into anotch to position the window and retracts from the notch to allowrepositioning of the window. By varying the position of the positionablewindow, the extent to which outside air is allowed to mix with insideair through the screen is controlled.

It is desirable in having such a positionable window, that the window becapable of being locked from the inside, so as to secure the window fromunauthorized break-ins. This has previously been accomplished by a tabbent out of the casing near the bottommost or closed position of thepositionable window. The tab then interferes with the latch mechanismwhen it is desired to raise the positionable window. To raise thepositionable window, the latches must be retracted.

The use of a tab to lock the positionable window has certain drawbacks.Mainly, in locking the positionable window at the bottommost position,the spring biased latches must be retracted in order to pass over thetab and then released to provide the desired interference lock. If thelatches were retracted automatically as the positionable window wasdropped to its bottommost position the window would lock as it wasclosed.

The prior art procedure whereby a tab is punched out of the storm windowcasing to provide the interference lock with the latch of thepositionable window does not require extra parts to provide a lockingfeature to the storm window, but does require an additionalmanufacturing step. The tab is also subject to being impacted by thepositionable window as it is dropped to the bottommost or closedposition. As a result, the tab, which is merely bent aluminum, can breakoff.

In manufacturing a storm window casing, corner pieces fit into the fourchannel structural members forming the casing to join side members totop and bottom members. The present invention is a corner piece whichserves to join the members as well as the lock for the latches, therebycombining these features in an economic and advantageous manner.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to providea latch for a storm window lock that automatically locks a positionablewindow of a storm window upon closing.

It is a related object of the present invention to provide a latch thatserves to provide a structural connection for the members of the stormwindow casing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a latch thatis highly serviceable in everyday use, requiring little or nomaintenance and long life.

In accordance with the objects of the invention, a catch or keeper for apositionable window spring biased latch of a vertically hung stormwindow is provided. The keeper fits at the two lowermost corners of thestorm window casing, joining parallel side structural members of thecasing to a bottom structural member. It is further understood thatconventional constructions might include a horizontal window or sliderhaving two sliding windows and a fixed window, i.e., a 3-lite slider, ora single fixed and single sliding window, i.e., a 2-lite slider. Forslider-type windows, no notches are necessary.

The keeper has a generally vertically oriented locking arm that fitswithin an inner track of the side members forming the casing of thestorm window. An integrally connected horizontal arm makes a right anglewith respect to the locking arm and fits within the inner track of thebottom member forming a horizontal portion of the storm window casing.

The locking arm portion of the keeper has a downwardly sloping rampadapted to engage a lock prong of a spring biased latch located along abottom side of a positionable window sash. The ramp of the locking armbiases the latch inward on downward movement of the positionable window.As the sash of the positionable window is lowered even further to aclosed position within the storm window casing, the lock prong is urgedinto a recess formed in the locking arm. Once the lock prong of thelatch is in the recess, the positionable window cannot be raised withoutbiasing the latch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a storm window with a catch ofthe present invention positioned in the lowermost corners of a stormwindow casing.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the storm window as it would appearlooking from the inside to the outside.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the storm window.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken in the plane ofline 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a latch for the storm windows shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the latch for the storm windowsshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the latch of the storm window shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of the latch for the storm windowsshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the catch shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the catch shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the catch shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a spring and lock mechanismassociated with the latch of the storm window shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of a spring and lock mechanism associatedwith the latch of the storm window shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the plane of line 14--14of FIG. 2.

FIG 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the plane of line 15--15of FIG. 2.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the plane of line 16--16of FIG. 2.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the plane of line 17--17of FIG. 4.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the plane of line 18--18of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A storm window 20, seen in FIG. 1, of basically conventional verticallyhung construction allows selective admission of outside air to theinside of a home or building through a screen 22 mounted within a screenframe 23. The screen covers approximately one half of the area definedby a storm window casing 24. The storm window casing 24 includes fourgenerally linear extruded members 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d joined togetherat mitered corners 25a, 25b, 25c and 25d. The remaining area of thestorm window casing 24 has a fixed window 26 mounted within a fixedwindow frame 27. The screen frame 23 and fixed window frame 27 are incontact with outside air and are aligned in an outer track 28 formedaround the inner perimeter of the storm window casing 24. A sash 30holds a positionable or sliding window 32, which window 32 is slideablealong an inner track 29 formed around the inner perimeter of the stormwindow frame 24, adjacent to the outer track 28.

In the assembled configuration, the conventional storm window 20therefore presents the fixed window 26 and screen 22 to the outside orexterior of a home or building. The sliding window 32 is positionable atvarious levels along the members 24a and 24c of the storm window casing24, intermediate the inside of a home or building and the coplanar fixedwindow 26 and screen 22 exteriorly mounted with respect to the home orbuilding.

A catch or keeper 31 of generally L-shaped configuration fits within theinner track 29 at mitered corners 25b and 25c to assist ininterconnecting members 24a, 24b and 24c of the storm window casing 24(FIGS. 1, 9, 10 and 11). A pair of latches 34 are slideably mounted on abottom side 80a of sash 30, adjacent to member 24b when the slidingwindow 32 is closed, which latches retract along a line perpendicular tothe direction of movement of the sliding window 32. As the slidingwindow 32 is dropped to its bottommost or closed position, the keeper 31automatically locks both latches 34 of the sliding window 32 to preventthe sliding window 32 from being raised along its sliding path in innertrack 29.

As is the case with conventional vertically hung storm windows, thesliding window 32 utilizes the pair of latches 34 mounted onto the sash30 to set the window position. Thus, more or less of the screen 22 isopen between inside and outside air. Wedge-shaped notches 36 are formedin the storm window casing 24 at preset positions along members 24a and24c (FIG. 1) on the inside of and along the inner tracks 29. Each latch34 has at a projected end 38 a support edge 40 (FIG. 5) of wedge-shapedtop plan view that has a corresponding shape to the notches 36,providing mating receipt between the edge 40 and the notches 36.

In operation, to change the position of the sliding window 32 from theposition covering the entire screen 22 (FIG. 2), at which position thelatches 34 are locked against sliding by the catch or keeper 31, thelatches must be retracted relative to the keeper, and the sliding windowraised. As the sliding window 32 is raised, the support edge 40sequentially engages the notches 36. The wedge shape of the notch 36 andcorresponding edge 40 are both directed downward, so that as the slidingwindow is raised, the notches automatically bias the latch 34 inward bythe sliding engagement with similarly shaped edge 40. At an uppermost orfully open position, the sliding window 32 exposes the entire surfacearea of the screen 22 to mix outside and inside air. To lower thesliding window 32, both latches 34 are retracted, removing support edge40 from the associated pair of notches 36 in members 24a and 24c, andthe window is dropped under the force of gravity until the proper notchis located, or the locked position at the keeper 31 is reached.

The unique construction of the catch or keeper 31 locks the slidingwindow 32 from movement along the inner track 29 once the sliding window32 is closed. The keeper 31 fits into the inner track 29 at both miteredcorners 25b and 25c of the overall storm window casing 24 (FIG. 1). Thekeeper is an integral body of generally L-shaped configuration (FIGS. 9,10 and 11) having a locking arm 42, disposed generally vertically andaligned along the direction of movement of the sliding window 32, and ananchor or horizontal arm 44 (FIG. 11), which arm 44 combines with arm 42to fit the keeper in the corners 25b and 25c of the inner track 29.

Locking arm 42 of the keeper 31 is engaged by a latch 34 as the slidingwindow 32 descends along inner track 29. The edge 40 of the latch 34 isinitially met by a downwardly and inwardly sloping ramp portion 46 ofthe keeper 31. As sliding window 32 moves downward, the latch 34 isbiased inwardly by the sliding relationship between the edge 40 of thelatch 34 and the ramp portion 46. Once the latch is biased away from theinner track 29, a generally rectangular locking prong 48 is met by theramp portion 46, in a relationship that is maintained until the rampportion ends.

At the position where the sliding window 32 nears its bottommostposition, the ramp portion 46 ends in a relatively short, compared tothe length of the locking arm 42, land portion 50. The land portion 50is generally vertically oriented, lying in a plane parallel to thelongitudinal axes of members 24a and 24c. The land portion receives thelocking prong 48 from the ramp portion 46 and terminates in a latchrecess 52. The latch recess 52 is an outwardly opening recess formed inlocking arm 42 which opens perpendicularly to the direction of movementof the sliding window 32. The latch recess 52 receives the locking prong48 of the latch 34 to thereby lock the sliding window 32 at thatposition.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the keeper 31 automatically locksthe latches 34 to prevent movement of the sliding window 32 in thesliding direction. As the sliding window 32 is lowered to the closedposition, each latch 34 is automatically biased by the engagementbetween the latch and the ramp portion 46 of the catch 31. Once thelocking prong 48 is fitted within a recess 52, the sliding window 32cannot be raised along the sliding direction. The horizontal arm 44 ofthe catch, which is locked into the inner track 29 of the member 24b,resists any movement of the sliding window 32 by being mounted in member24b, unless the latch 34 is retracted.

The keeper 31 also assists in connecting and aligning frame members 24a,24b and 24c (FIG. 1). Conventional construction would utilize a separatecorner piece connected by a screw to the members for this purpose. Theconfiguration of the keeper 31, having a horizontal arm 44 and agenerally vertically oriented locking arm 42, means that the locking armextends into the inner track 29 of frame members 24a and 24c, whichinner track tightly grips the locking arm 42 along the length thereof byengagement with a pair of parallel grooves 54 (FIGS. 9, 10 and 11),while the horizontal arm is frictionally held within the inner track 29of frame member 24b (FIG. 4). The frame members are then connected by asingle screw at each mitered corner 25a through 25d.

The inner track 29 and outer track 28 of frame members 24a, 24b, 24c and24d of the storm window casing 24 are constructed from a singleconventionally available aluminum extrusion. The transverse section oftracks 28 and 29 is seen in FIGS. 15, 16, 17 and 18 to include a flatplanar inner surface 56 forming the inside of inner track 29. The innersurface 56 is integrally connected by a first flange portion 58 to amiddle surface 60, lying in a plane parallel to the inner surface 56 andextending a relatively short distance further into the opening definedby the storm window casing 24 than does inner surface 56. A secondflange portion 62 integrally connects middle surface 60 to outer surface64, which outer surface 64 is in contact with the outside air and liesin a plane parallel to the inner and middle surfaces respectively. Theouter surface 64 extends a relatively short distance further into theopening defined by the storm window casing 24 than does the middlesurface 60. The inner track 29 and outer track 28 are therefore seen tostaircase inward from the inside to the outside of the casing 24. Aninnermost end 66 of the inner, middle and outer surfaces is inturned toperpendicularly intersect the frames 23 and 27 and the sash 30, therebyassisting in sealing the window. A pair of lips 68, disposed on theinside of both the outer 64 and inner surfaces 56 near the inturned end66 receive therebetween a sealing element 70 mounted about the entireperimeter of the storm window casing 24 and against which sealingelement frame members 23 and 27 and sash 30 rest.

The frame 27 of the fixed window 26 and the sash 30 of the slidingwindow 32 are of very similar construction (FIG. 1, 14, 15 and 16).Along top sides 72 and vertical sides 74 the fixed window frame 27 andthe sash 30 of the sliding window 32 are both of generally H-shapedcross sectional view. All four ends 76 of the frame and sash areinturned to pinch therebetween seals 78 and the windows 26 and 32. Abottom side 80 of fixed window frame 27 and bottom side 80a of sash 30are also of generally H-shaped cross section, but have an extension 82(FIG. 14) disposed to the outside of the overall storm window 20, whichextension leaves an opening 84 on the inside of the storm window 20extending perpendicularly between the vertical sides 74 and adapted toreceive the latches 34. As seen in FIG. 14, the fixed window framebottom side 80 has parallel spaced apart sides 86 adapted to fit overand receive a top side 88 of the frame 23 of the screen 22. The bottomside 80a of the sliding window 32 is of similar construction to thebottom side 80 of the fixed window 26 but without the inclusion of thespaced apart sides 86 (FIG. 18). Bottom side 80a still provides space 84to provide for mounting the pair of latches 34 to the bottom side 80a ofthe sash 30.

The frame 23 of the screen 32 (FIGS. 1, 14, 15, 17 and 18) has a similarcross section to top side 72 and vertical sides 74 of the sash 30. Anedge 90 of screen frame 23 extends around the periphery of the frame andhas two parallel sides 92 extending toward the outside of the window 20and adapted to grasp therebetween an edge of the screen 22 (FIGS. 14 and15). Bottom side 80c of the screen frame 27 is essentially the same asbottom side 80a of the slideable window sash 30 (FIG. 18).

The latches 34 are of generally flat rectangular elongated shape (FIGS.5 through 8). Three ribs 94 are disposed along the length of the latch34 and project laterally from each side of the latch in a plane parallelto the plane containing the fixed window 26 and screen 22. The bottomsides 80, 80c, and 80a of window frame 23, screen frame 27 and sash 30respectively retain the ribs 94 of each latch in sliding engagement. Onesurface of the latch slides against the respective extensions 82 of thebottom sides, while the other side faces the inside of the window 20 formanual actuation. The inside surface has an indentation 96 at the endopposite projected end 38 that can be used to slide the latch againstthe bias of a spring 98 (FIGS. 12 and 13). Near the projected end 38 ofthe latch 34 is located an elongated hollow 100 (FIG. 7) adapted toreceive along the length thereof the spring 98. The spring is thereforeheld in position in the hollow 100. One end of the spring is fixed to ablock 102 while the other abuts against the latch near projected end 38.The block has a pin 104 that fits into a hole in the bottom sides 80,80c and 80a of frames 23 and 27 and sash 30 respectively (FIG. 4).Pushing the pin 104 out of the hole permits the entire latch to be slidout of the respective frame or sash along the space 84.

The fixed window 26, the screen 22, and the sliding window 32 are allremovable from the storm window casing 24 for cleaning, maintenance orstorage. Removal of these three elements of the storm window 20 islargely accomplished by biasing the latches 34 toward the interior ofthe opening defined by the window casing 24 (FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7).Each of the pair of latches 34 are biased to protrude in oppositedirection into the respective tracks 28 for the fixed window 26 andscreen 22, and track 29 for the slideable window 32. Retracting the pairof latches allows the bottom sides 80, 80c and 80a of the frames 23 and27 and sash 30 to be removed from the storm window casing 24 by pullingthe bottom side directly in from the casing 24. The top side 72 of fixedwindow frame 27 and window sash 30 are held in their respective tracksby a pair of opposed fingers 106 (FIG. 1), which fingers are rigidlymounted along the respective top sides 72 of the fixed frame 27 and thesash 30, respectively. The top side can be easily removed by skewing thewindow 26 or 32 relative to the casing 24. The screen frame 23 is heldin position by the bottom side 80 of the fixed window frame 27 (FIG.16), and can be easily removed once the bottom side 80c of the screenframe 23 has been removed.

The foregoing embodiment of the invention has been described with acertain degree of particularity. It should be understood, however, thatthis description has been made by way of example and that certaindepartures therefrom may be possible without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lock for a window having a positionable windowportion, said positionable window portion being slideably mounted in agenerally rectangular window casing, said window casing constructed fromfour generally linear members formed in a generally rectangularconfiguration comprising in combination:track means formed in twoparallel side linear members of said window casing for sliding saidpositionable window along a predetermined path in said window casing;latch means mounted on said positionable window, said latch means forselectively engaging said window casing; and at least one generallyL-shaped keeper having a generally vertically oriented locking arm and ahorizontal arm, said keeper providing connection means for two of saidgenerally linear members of said storm window casing intersecting at acorner of said storm window casing, said keeper further having a rampportion adapted to engage and retract said latch means and a recessportion positioned along said locking arm for retaining said latchmeans.